Francistown - History
Combining
elements of the old and the new, Francistown in Botswana's first town and
the oldest commercial center. It derives its name from Daniel Francis, a
prospector and trader who was a central figure in the gold rush to the
region in the 1860's. Long before Gaborone was anything more than a
village, Francistown was established to serve this mining industry and was
a vigorously developing center. Although somewhat overshadowed in recent
years by the tremendous growth of Gaborone, the town, sometimes
affectionately referred to as the "old lady of Botswana", is once again
experiencing boom conditions and considerable expansion.
Francis town's establishment as a town is owed to the presence of gold in the vicinity. This precious metal had been mined long before the colonial era, with world workings discovered which date back as far as 1100 and 1400 A.D. Early European explorers discovered the remains of these prehistoric mines in the mid-19th century and, in 1880, Francis negotiated with King Lobengula for mining and other rights. His company, Tati Concessions, eventually hired a surveyor and, by 1897, the streets for a new town had been laid out. The town grew quickly and during the same year a hotel, three banks and various business premises had been established - amongst the earliest businessmen in Francistown were James Haskins, the Grenfell brothers, Stem, Feddeman, Susman and Rounoivell. Over the years it became a sprawling township, and is today one of Botswana's largest industrial centers.
A
phenomenal amount of growth was experienced during the 80's, with the
number of operating industrial units representing a growth rate of 305
percent over a period of four years. Gold mining operations still continue
in the Francistown area. Not all of the small mining operations are merely
retreating dumps. The search for gold in the Francistown area and beyond
is being actively pursued and it is anticipated that other deposits will
come on line in the not too distant future.
A third abattoir was commissioned at Francistown during the 1989/90 financial year, with the plant obtaining veterinary approval to export its product to South Africa and the EC. The Francistown abattoir has a capacity of 400 cattle and 150 small stock sheep and goats per day, with the 1991/92 financial year one of the best years for the three abattoirs in the last decade. Total throughput for the period improved and the total of 213,635 cattle was the highest since the 1983/84 financial year.
